DI Women’s Basketball Player of the Week – No. 3

Canitez of Westmont (Calif.) named Division I National Player of the Week

January 22, 2013

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By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Tugce Canitez of Westmont (Calif.) has been named the NAIA National Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Canitez was selected based on her performances from Jan. 14 - 20 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/unaffiliated group winners.

Canitez, a native of Izmir, Turkey, averaged 24.5 points, 18.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in Westmont's wins over then-No. 1 Vanguard (Calif.) (66-56) and Hope International (Calif.) (69-49) last week. She shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the floor and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the charity stripe. Canitez hit 8-of-13 shots en route to a game-high 23 points against top-ranked Vanguard. She also led the team with 16 rebounds en route to handing the Lions their first loss of the season. Against Hope International, the 6-2 senior forward posted her ninth double-double on the year, recording 26 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. She also contributed five assists, one block and one steal in 38 minutes.

Nationally, Canitez ranks second in defensive rebounds per game (8.4) and fourth in points per game (20.0). She rests only 11 points shy of 1,000 career points in only a year and one-half at Westmont.

For a complete list of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on Jan. 29. For the complete Player of the Week calendar, click here.